Olivia goes West

Chapter 13

"Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true..."

Tanya sighed and stared up at the moon, sitting outside of the saloon after another night at work. She'd had a hard time putting on an enthusiastic performance on the stage, with the news of her brother's apparent death earlier in the day. But after the performance, Ratigan had taken her aside backstage. Holding her hands, he told her how sorry he was that he wasn't able to save her brother.

"It's okay," she had said, "You did everything you could. I don't blame you at all."

At being told that, Ratigan had held her closely, and cried on her shoulder. He was such a charming man...and with a heart too. He even offered her a raise in salary, to compensate for her family's loss, which she gladly accepted. Waul too reiterated how sad he was, how he bore no ill will toward Fievel, even saying that he'd gotten what he deserved from Fievel before. They both seemed genuine in their sorrow.

The moon had caught her eye as she exited the building, still in her tight dancing outfit, a feather in her hair. Her last song of the night was being sung to the moon, alone. She always had a sixth sense about her brother. Deep down she knew, or at least hoped, maybe Fievel was still alive somewhere, down river. He survived the Atlantic Ocean, maybe he could survive the rapids too. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was still alive.

"Psst..."

Tanya's head shot back. She wiped her eyes so no one would see her tears.

"Who's there?"

"Over here. In the alley." came a whisper.

Tanya got to her feet, and curiously walked down the sidewalk, her high heels clacking against the wood. She looked around the corner to see the large dark shape of Tiger, crouching in the alley.

"Tiger? What is it?"

"Shhh...I can't let anyone hear us," he whispered.

"Why not?" Tanya whispered back.

He held out his paw, "Come on, I'll tell you."

She carefully stepped onto his paw, and he carried her down the alley, across another street and behind the undertaker's building. No one ever came there at night.

"Alright, we should be safe here, I think..." he said, looking around, "Do you see anything around here? Any spiders? Bats?"

"What are you talking about?" she put her hands on her hips.

"Fidget or Chula," he whispered, "Th-they could be spying on us..."

"Why would they be spying on us, Tiger? Besides, they're back at the bar, I saw them."

"Let's hope they're still there," Tiger said, "I gotta talk to you about something, and you can't tell anyone else about it. I'm telling you, if Waul and Ratigan find out I'm telling you this, I'm done for."

She cocked an eyebrow, "What's this have to do with them?"

"It's about Fievel. Fievel and Olivia."

Her heart sank, "What about them...?"

"What happened to them wasn't an accident."

Tanya's eyes widened.

"Waul and Ratigan got rid of them because they knew too much. They knew that Olivia's dad was being kept in the gold mine along with Wylie Burp, and that Waul forced Wylie into making him sheriff, and-"

"Tiger. You're talking nonsense," she said firmly, "I know that their...their accident must have made you very sad. I'm sad too. But, jumping to conclusions? Making up conspiracy theories like that? It's not helping."